1) How have human activities altered the natural environment?
Cleared away trees
Eroded the soil
Polluted air and water ways
Killed animals
Reduced the flow of water
Killed plants
2) Explain how the Indigenous Australians impacted on the natural environment?
Killing animals
Chopping down trees
Creating campsites
Fires
Killing plants
Moving plants to other places
Moving animals to other places
3) How has European Settlements impacted?
Clearing of land
Population growth
Introduction of new species
Killing of animals and plants
Creating cities and towns
Activity 3
1)Cattle have been denied grazing because the land is still recovering from the fires and they believe that if cattle are allowed to graze they may affect or even stop its recovery. 2)The DSE are responsible for handing out licenses. 3)12 parks have allowed cattle back into them so that they can graze. 4)The recovery time above 800m is slower because the growing season is shorter and also because of the snow and frosts in winter The problem with cattle grazing according to Ian Harris is that the cattle will erode the stream banks and pollute the waterways.
Activity 4
Agriculture
Agriculture in Australia started when European’s first settled, and they brought over sheep, cattle, and crops so that food would be available when needed.Agriculture has continued and grown since then with different things being grown like grapes, olives, cotton, fish, rice and fruit. It will continue to be needed in Australia because it means there is locally grown food and cloths in the supermarkets and shops and so the produce can also be exported to other countries. Agricultural produce made up around 16.1% of Australia’s exports in 2006-07.
Agriculture takes up a large amount of land across Australia, with an estimated 447 million hectares Australia’s land mass being taken up by agricultural methods. The majority of this land is taken up by livestock grazing. Agriculture has many different processes and all of these have an affect on the environment. Cropping of paddocks takes nutrients away from the soil and if there is over cropping then the soil looses to many nutrients and this makes it hard to grow anything in. this is why most farmers rotate paddocks that are cropped every few years. Irrigation of paddocks has a major affect on the environment with a rising watertable and so it brings up the salinity level of the ground making it hard to grow anything. Grazing of animals destroys channel banks and river banks. It reduces vegetation and destroys native flora.
Agriculture in Australia has grown lots since European settlement with different methods of agriculture. With the introduction of genetically modified plants and animals they are able to be farmed in harsher areas.
Activity 4 European Carp
European carp were introduced to Australia in 1876 and were brought over with the Europeans for fishing. The carp survived so well because they can tolerate many different areas and can live in all fresh water areas.
European carp are found across Victoria, parts of New South Wales and in the bottom half of South Australia, Southern parts of Western Australia, all of Tasmania and a little bit of southern Queensland.
Activity 6
Unit 2 – VCE – Outdoor & Environmental Studies Activity 7 GrampiansNational ParkIntroduction Introduction to Grampians National Park Provide a summary of the Park (What does it contain?) Facilities provided within Grampians National Park Facilities for visitors include: • Visitor Information Centre. • Camp grounds. • Picnic grounds. • BBQs and picnic tables. • Information shelters. • Walking tracks and roads. • Lookouts. • Pit toilets. a.What activities can be complete within the park?
·Picnicking
·Bush walking
·Swimming
·Cycling
·Horse riding
·Rock climbing and abseiling
·Camping within the park
Landscape Characteristics 2)Explain the unique characteristics of the Grampians Landscape The park's landscape consists of three sandstone ridges, running north to south for 90 kilometres. These distinctive wave-shaped ranges are examples of 'cuesta' escarpment landforms. a.Where is the park located? Location The park is located in central western Victoria, approximately 260 kilometres , north-west of Melbourne. The towns near the park are Horsham, Hamilton, Ararat and Stawell. Grampians National Park stretches 85 kilometres north-south and 45 kilometres east-west at its widest point, covering an area of 167,000 hectares. Climate of the Grampians Area 3)Provide a basic summary of the parks climate The Grampians area has a temperate climate, with marked seasonal patterns. Usually summer and autumn are warm and dry while winter and spring are cool and wet. a.What will be the expected temperature (min and max) and rainfall for the month that we are away? Maximum temperature:about 23 degrees Minimum temperature: about 8 degrees Vegetation of the Grampians 4)Provide a Basic Summary of the vegetation of the Grampians Around 900 different flowering plants occur in Grampians National Park. Approximately one third of Victoria’s vascular flora can be found in the park, including over 20 endemic plants, i.e. plants that only occur naturally in the Grampians region and nowhere else on earth. Of the endemic plants that occur in the Grampians, nine are distinguished by the word 'Grampians' in their name. Some of the endemic plants are prolific, e.g. Grampians Thryptomene while others are restricted, e.g. the Rosy Bush-pea is only found at higher altitudes. a.What are the main Plant communities within the park? Endemic plants in Grampians National Park Grampians Thryptomene Grampians Bauera Grampians Boronia Grampians Bossiaea Grampians Fringe-myrtle Grampians Grevillea Grampians Gum Grampians Parrot-pea Grampians Trigger-plant Rosy Bush-pea Ribbed Bush-pea Wedge-leaf Bush-pea Williamson's Bush-pea Cassell Grevillea Mount William Grevillea Narrow-leaf Trymalium Hairy Raspwort Borya species Animals of the Grampians 5)Explain the diversity of the animal species at the Grampians A great variety of wildlife occurs in the Grampians, representing a high percentage of the native animal species found in Victoria: • 43% of Victoria's bird species, • 34% of Victoria's mammal species, • 34% of the State's amphibian species, • 28% of Victoria's reptile species and • 20% of Victoria's freshwater fish species. Four mammals, four reptiles, three fish and eight bird species recorded in the park are considered to be rare, threatened or requiring careful monitoring. a.What Mammals, Fish, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians can we expect to see?
Mammals
Thirty-five different mammal species occur in the Park, including the popular koala. A total of five species of kangaroo and wallabies occur in the area, making it the richest macropod area in the State.
Birds
Grampians National Park is particularly rich in bird life with 200 species, that is forty-three per cent of species recorded in Victoria. Introduced birds are blackbird, pigeon, skylark, sparrow, goldfinch and starling. Reptiles The reptile fauna of 28 species is particularly rich in the Grampians because of the area's diversity of habitats. The Water Skink is probably the most easily seen, along streams and basking on rocks. The Long-necked Tortoise also favours the wetland areas of the park. Seven snake species live in the park including Copperhead, Eastern Tiger Snake, Red-bellied Black Snake and Eastern Brown Snake.
Fish
Six species of native fish have been recorded in the park. Most of these are small fish which inhabit the streams of the area. A further six species of introduced fish, including the popular Rainbow and Brown Trout, occur in the park, particularly in the reservoirs. Amphibians Eleven species of frogs live in the park in permanent ponds and swamps, flowing streams and flooded areas. They are most audible during breeding time in winter and spring, especially at night and on cloudy, wet days. Visitors to the Grampians National Park 6)Who uses the Grampians? Most visitors are from western Victoria, Melbourne and eastern South Australia. The majority of tourists are family groups with children between the ages of 5 -14 years. Ninety percent of the visitors spend less than seven nights in the park and 20% are day visitors. Ninety-two percent of visitors travel by car.
a.What do visitors do?
Camping
Picnicking
Bush walking
Four-wheel driving and trail bikes
Rock climbing and abseiling
Pleasure driving
Cycling
Angling
Visitor information
Swimming
Boating
Monitoring
Vandalism
Voluntary assistance
b.How many visitors were there between 2000 and 2001? Visitor numbers for Grampians National Park (in Visitor days).
Activity 2
1) How have human activities altered the natural environment?
2) Explain how the Indigenous Australians impacted on the natural environment?
3) How has European Settlements impacted?
Activity 3
1) Cattle have been denied grazing because the land is still recovering from the fires and they believe that if cattle are allowed to graze they may affect or even stop its recovery.2) The DSE are responsible for handing out licenses.
3) 12 parks have allowed cattle back into them so that they can graze.
4) The recovery time above 800m is slower because the growing season is shorter and also because of the snow and frosts in winter
The problem with cattle grazing according to Ian Harris is that the cattle will erode the stream banks and pollute the waterways.
Activity 4
Agriculture
Agriculture in Australia started when European’s first settled, and they brought over sheep, cattle, and crops so that food would be available when needed. Agriculture has continued and grown since then with different things being grown like grapes, olives, cotton, fish, rice and fruit. It will continue to be needed in Australia because it means there is locally grown food and cloths in the supermarkets and shops and so the produce can also be exported to other countries. Agricultural produce made up around 16.1% of Australia’s exports in 2006-07.
Agriculture takes up a large amount of land across Australia, with an estimated 447 million hectares Australia’s land mass being taken up by agricultural methods. The majority of this land is taken up by livestock grazing.
Agriculture has many different processes and all of these have an affect on the environment. Cropping of paddocks takes nutrients away from the soil and if there is over cropping then the soil looses to many nutrients and this makes it hard to grow anything in. this is why most farmers rotate paddocks that are cropped every few years. Irrigation of paddocks has a major affect on the environment with a rising watertable and so it brings up the salinity level of the ground making it hard to grow anything. Grazing of animals destroys channel banks and river banks. It reduces vegetation and destroys native flora.
Agriculture in Australia has grown lots since European settlement with different methods of agriculture. With the introduction of genetically modified plants and animals they are able to be farmed in harsher areas.
Activity 4
European Carp
European carp were introduced to Australia in 1876 and were brought over with the Europeans for fishing. The carp survived so well because they can tolerate many different areas and can live in all fresh water areas.
European carp are found across Victoria, parts of New South Wales and in the bottom half of South Australia, Southern parts of Western Australia, all of Tasmania and a little bit of southern Queensland.
Activity 6
Unit 2 – VCE – Outdoor & Environmental Studies
Activity 7
Grampians National Park Introduction
Introduction to Grampians National Park
Provide a summary of the Park (What does it contain?)
Facilities provided within Grampians National Park
Facilities for visitors include:
• Visitor Information Centre.
• Camp grounds.
• Picnic grounds.
• BBQs and picnic tables.
• Information shelters.
• Walking tracks and roads.
• Lookouts.
• Pit toilets.
a. What activities can be complete within the park?
· Picnicking
· Bush walking
· Swimming
· Cycling
· Horse riding
· Rock climbing and abseiling
· Camping within the park
Landscape Characteristics
2) Explain the unique characteristics of the Grampians
Landscape
The park's landscape consists of three sandstone ridges, running north to south for 90 kilometres. These distinctive wave-shaped ranges are examples of 'cuesta' escarpment landforms.
a. Where is the park located?
Location
The park is located in central western Victoria, approximately 260 kilometres , north-west of Melbourne. The towns near the park are Horsham, Hamilton, Ararat and Stawell. Grampians National Park stretches 85 kilometres north-south and 45 kilometres east-west at its widest point, covering an area of 167,000 hectares.
Climate of the Grampians Area
3) Provide a basic summary of the parks climate
The Grampians area has a temperate climate, with marked seasonal patterns. Usually summer and autumn are warm and dry while winter and spring are cool and wet.
a. What will be the expected temperature (min and max) and rainfall for the month that we are away?
Maximum temperature: about 23 degrees
Minimum temperature: about 8 degrees
Vegetation of the Grampians
4) Provide a Basic Summary of the vegetation of the Grampians
Around 900 different flowering plants occur in Grampians National Park.
Approximately one third of Victoria’s vascular flora can be found in the park, including over 20 endemic plants, i.e. plants that only occur naturally in the Grampians region and nowhere else on earth. Of the endemic plants that occur in the Grampians, nine are distinguished by the word 'Grampians' in their name. Some of the endemic plants are prolific, e.g. Grampians Thryptomene while others are restricted, e.g. the Rosy Bush-pea is only found at higher altitudes.
a. What are the main Plant communities within the park?
Endemic plants in Grampians National Park
Grampians Thryptomene
Grampians Bauera
Grampians Boronia
Grampians Bossiaea
Grampians Fringe-myrtle
Grampians Grevillea
Grampians Gum
Grampians Parrot-pea
Grampians Trigger-plant
Rosy Bush-pea
Ribbed Bush-pea
Wedge-leaf Bush-pea
Williamson's Bush-pea
Cassell Grevillea
Mount William Grevillea
Narrow-leaf Trymalium
Hairy Raspwort
Borya species
Animals of the Grampians
5) Explain the diversity of the animal species at the Grampians
A great variety of wildlife occurs in the Grampians, representing a high percentage of the native animal species found in Victoria:
• 43% of Victoria's bird species,
• 34% of Victoria's mammal species,
• 34% of the State's amphibian species,
• 28% of Victoria's reptile species and
• 20% of Victoria's freshwater fish species.
Four mammals, four reptiles, three fish and eight bird species recorded in the park are considered to be rare, threatened or requiring careful monitoring.
a. What Mammals, Fish, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians can we expect to see?
Mammals
Thirty-five different mammal species occur in the Park, including the popular koala. A total of five species of kangaroo and wallabies occur in the area, making it the richest macropod area in the State.Birds
Grampians National Park is particularly rich in bird life with 200 species, that is forty-three per cent of species recorded in Victoria. Introduced birds are blackbird, pigeon, skylark, sparrow, goldfinch and starling.Reptiles
The reptile fauna of 28 species is particularly rich in the Grampians because of the area's diversity of habitats. The Water Skink is probably the most easily seen, along streams and basking on rocks. The Long-necked Tortoise also favours the wetland areas of the park.
Seven snake species live in the park including Copperhead, Eastern Tiger Snake, Red-bellied Black Snake and Eastern Brown Snake.
Fish
Six species of native fish have been recorded in the park. Most of these are small fish which inhabit the streams of the area. A further six species of introduced fish, including the popular Rainbow and Brown Trout, occur in the park, particularly in the reservoirs.Amphibians
Eleven species of frogs live in the park in permanent ponds and swamps, flowing streams and flooded areas. They are most audible during breeding time in winter and spring, especially at night and on cloudy, wet days.
Visitors to the Grampians National Park
6) Who uses the Grampians?
Most visitors are from western Victoria, Melbourne and eastern South Australia. The majority of tourists are family groups with children between the ages of 5 -14 years. Ninety percent of the visitors spend less than seven nights in the park and 20% are day visitors. Ninety-two percent of visitors travel by car.
a. What do visitors do?
Camping
Picnicking
Bush walking
Four-wheel driving and trail bikes
Rock climbing and abseiling
Pleasure driving
Cycling
Angling
Visitor information
Swimming
Boating
Monitoring
Vandalism
Voluntary assistance
b. How many visitors were there between 2000 and 2001?
Visitor numbers for Grampians National Park (in Visitor days).
81
85
88
98
99
2000
01